Ring structure for connecting cans in superposed relation



Dec. 30, 1958 J. HENCHERT RING STRUCTURE FOR CONNECTING CANS INSUPERPOSED RELATION Filed Feb. 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 QQ INVENTORL707uz ffcrzcizerii 7km, ui l/Maw; M

Dec. 30, 1958 J. HENCHERT Filed Feb. 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1.9 Il/r K 3 :3 120 E5 5 i i .2. 1 v 1 i I I g 14 I I 7 17 I z I I 7 24 16 1I I INVENTOR.

' BY J57? Jfenafzerf United States Patent RING STRUCTURE FOR CONNECTINGCANS IN SUPERPOSED RELATION John Henchert, River Forest, 111., assignorto Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application February 15, 1957, Serial No. 640,454

7 Claims. (Cl. Mil-23.83)

The invention relates generally to metallic receptacles and primarilyseeks to provide a novel ring structure for connecting cans insuperposed relation.

It sometimes happens that in the marketing of products in cans acustomer will want to make a combination or bargain deal, selling at aspecial price a can of smaller capacity or diameter along with a can oflarger capacity or diameter, the cans having contents of the same kindor of different kinds. An object of the present invention is to providea novel ring structure including a skirt, roll crimped or securelycurledonto the seam at the top of the larger can, and an upstanding ringrib within which to receive the seam at the bottom of the smaller can,said rib having indents or n'ibs under which said smaller can seam canbe snapped and which serve to removably attach the superposed smallercan to the supporting larger can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can connecting ringstructure of the character stated wherein there is included a cansupporting shelf extending inw-ardly from the upstanding ring rib andwhereon the bottom seam of the superposed can may rest, and a downwardlyturned annular flange or 'wall engageable as a supporting column againstthe top end closure of the supporting larger can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can and connectingring combination wherein the superposed cans are of the tear strip type,each having a tear strip winding key attached centrally on its topclosure, the key on the larger supporting can being readily accessiblethrough the central opening in the connecting ring after the smallersupported can is removed from its snapped in mounting.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation and in part vertical cross sectional viewillustrating the improved connecting ring structure per se, prior toattachment thereof to the cans to be connected thereby.

Figure 2 is a side elevation and in part vertical cross sectionillustrating two cans in superposed. relation and connected by theconnecting ring structure.

Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the connected can and ringcombination shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View illustrating aportion of the connecting ring and can portions connected thereby.

In this example disclosure, the can connecting ring structure is shownas comprising a flat horizontal ring body 5 merging at its peripheryinto a downwardly turned skirt 6. Inwardly, the body S merges into anupwardly and inwardly inclined wall 7 merging through an inwardly anddownwardly turned curve or rib 8 into an 2 upright wall 9, inwardly ofand concentric to the skirt 6. The upright wall 9 merges at its lowerextremity into an inwardly turned horizontal shelf 10, and the shelfmerges at its inner edge portion into a downwardly turned supportingflange or wall 11, also concentric to the skirt 6 and wall 9 and whichmay have its terminal edge turned slightly as indicated at 12. v

At equidistantly spaced points, the rib 8 is indented at 13 to provideinwardly overhanging nibs 14, the purpose of which will be describedhereinafter. f V

The previously described connecting ring structure is designed forremovably attaching a smaller diameter can of the tear strip type upon alarger diameter supporting can. The supported or smaller can 15 has abottom closure 16 double roll seam secured thereon at 17, and a topclosure 18 double roll seam secured thereon at 19. A winding key 20 isattached to the top closure 18, as indicated in Figure 2. The larger orsupporting can 21 also has a bottom closure double roll seam securedthereon at 22, and a top closure 23 double roll seam secured thereon at24. It will also be apparent by reference to Figure 2 that the topclosure 23 of the supporting or larger can has a winding key 25 attachedcentrally thereto. In use, the connecting ring structure has its skirt 6fitted over the top seam 24 of the larger or supporting can and rollcrimped or curled onto said seam to securely attach the ring structureto said larger or supporting can. See Figures 2 and '4. It will benotedthat in this mounting of the ring structure, the inner wall 11engages as a supporting'column against the top surface of the topclosure 23 of the larger or supporting can 21. It will also be apparentby reference to Figure 2 of the drawing that the annular wall 11provides a well within which the winding key 25 is housed. The key isreadily accessible through the opening into the well prior to attachmentofthe smaller or supported can 15 on the ring structure, or} after saidcan has been snapped out of its'ring support or attachment.

The smaller or supported can can be conveniently, and yet removably,attached to the connecting ring structure and the underlying supportingor larger can 21 by merely snapping the bottom seam 17 thereof, underthe retaining nibs 14, said seam being snugly, but removably, receivedwithin the wall 9 and supported on the shelf 10 in the mannerillustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

The arrangement of the parts is such that the attachment of the smalleror supported can 15 on the ring structure is quite secure, thoughremovable in the initial mounting of the can, but after the smaller canhas been removed and replaced a few times, less effort will be requiredin the removal and remounting thereof.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes ofillustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

said body and merging inwardly into a vertical annular wall within whichto snugly receive the bottom seam of a supported can, said wall mergingat its lower terminus into a horizontal inwardly directed planar annularshelf on which the supported can rests, said rib having inwardlyprojecting nibs for removably snapping over the bottom seam of thesupported can.

2. A can connecting ring structure of the character described comprisinga horizontal planar annular body having a skirt depending from the outeredge portion thereof and dimensioned to embrace and form an attachmentwiththe top closure securing seam of a supporting can, an annular rib'upstaii'dingffrom the inner edge 'portion of said body arid mergingtin'wardly into a vertical annular wall within which to snugl receivethe bottom seam of a supported can, said wall merging at its lowerterminus into a horizontal inwardly directed horizontal planar annularshelf on which the supported can rests, said rib having inwardlyprojecting nibs for removably snapping over the bottom seam of thesupported can and said shelf merging inwardly into a downwardly turnedflange engageable as a supporting column against the top end closure ofthe supporting can.

3. The combination of a larger diameter supporting can and a smallerdiameter supported can and a connecting ring removably attaching thesmaller can in superposed relation on the larger can, each said canbeing of the tear strip type with bottom and top closures seam securedthereon and having a winding key attached centrally on its top closure,said ring comprising a horizontal planar annular body having a skirtdepending from the outer edge portion thereof and securely embracing thetop seam of the larger can, an annular rib upstanding from the inneredge portion of said body and merging inwardly into a vertical annularwall snugly but removably embracing the bottom seam of the smaller can,said wall merging at its lower terminus into a horizontal inwardlydirected planar annular shelf supporting said smaller can, said ribhaving inwardly projecting nibs removably snapped over the bottom seamof the smaller can and retaining the same on said shelf, and said shelfmerging inwardly into a downwardly turned flange engaging as a ribsupporting column against the top end closure of 'thefilargeri can andfreely surrounding the winding key thereon. so that the latter will bereadily accessible upon removal of the smaller can from its mounting onthe ring.

'4. Aicanconnecting ring structure of the character "describedcomprising a generally fiat horizontally disposed rin'g body having asan integral part thereof and disposed at its outer peripheral edge askirt depending from the ring body and dimensioned to embrace and forman attachment with the top seam of a supporting can, and an annularupstanding rib spaced inwardly from the skirt and bearing concentricrelation thereto and dimensioned to embrace the bottom seam of asupported can of smaller size than the supporting can and havinginwardly projecting nibs for removably snapping over such a bottom seamfor removably attaching such a supported canon the supporting can.

5. A can connecting ring structure of the character described comprisinga generally flat ring body having as an integral part thereof a skirtdepending from the ring body and'dimensioned to embrace and form anattachment with 'the top seam of a supporting can, an annular upstandingrib spaced inwardly from the skirt and bearing concentric relationthereto and dimensioned to embrace thebottom seam of a supported can andhaving inwardly projecting nibs disposed approximately at the level ofsaid ring body for removably snapping over such a bottom seam forremovably attaching such a supported can on the supporting can, and anannular shelf projecting inwardly of said rib in a plane paralleling theplane in which said ring body lies but spaced below the same a distanceapproximating the depth of the bottom seam of a supported can and onwhich the supported can rests.

6. Can connecting ring structure as defined in claim 5 wherein theannular rib rises above the plane of the ring body.

' 7. Can connecting ring structure as defined in claim 5 'wherein thereis included means depending from the shelf References Citedin the fileof this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Hothersall May 6, 1930 Nicholls Dec.19, 1933

